Radio jets in NGC 1068 with e-MERLIN and VLA: Structure and morphology

• We present new high-sensitivity e-MERLIN and Very Large Array (VLA) radio images of the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 at 5, 10, and 21 GHz. We image the radio jet, from the compact components north-east (NE), C, S1, and S2 to the faint double-lobed jet structure of the NE and south-west (SW) jet lobes. We map the jet between 15 kλ and 3300 kλ spatial scales by combining enhanced-Multi Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) and VLA data for the first time. Components NE, C, and S2 have steep spectra indicative of optically thin non-Thermal emission domination between 5 and 21 GHz. Component S1, which is where the active galactic nucleus resides, has a flat radio spectrum. We report a new component, S2a, a part of the southern jet. We compare these new data with the MERLIN and VLA data observed in 1983, 1992, and 1995 and report a flux decrease by a factor of 2 in component C, suggesting variability of this jet component. With the high angular resolution e-MERLIN maps, we detect the bow shocks in the NE jet lobe that coincide with the molecular gas outflows observed with ALMA. The NE jet lobe has a jet power of 6.7 × 1042 erg s-1 and is considered to be responsible for driving out the dense molecular gas observed with ALMA around the same region.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Signalbehandling (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Signal Processing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

radio continuum: general

galaxies: Active

galaxies: individual: NGC 1068: jets

radiation mechanisms:general

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